Where Law Meets Fashion: A Villanova Law Student’s Experience Studying International Entrepreneurship in Milan

Emmeline Lignowski is a second-year student at Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law and a Student Fellow with the John F. Scarpa Center for Entrepreneurship and Law. This past summer, Emmeline participated in Villanova Law’s Legal Issues Facing International Entrepreneurs: Italy’s Fashion Industry program in Milan, Italy. In this reflection, she shares how studying the intersection of international business, law, and fashion broadened her understanding of entrepreneurship, strengthened her interest in business law, and inspired her continued involvement with the Scarpa Center.

This past summer, I was fortunate enough to spend two weeks in Milan, Italy as a student in the course “Legal Issues Facing International Entrepreneurs: Italy’s Fashion Industry.” Led by Professor MarySheila McDonald, this program explored topics in international business through the lens of Milan’s global fashion industry.

I did not study abroad in college, nor did I think this opportunity would be available to me as a law student. However, when Professor McDonald told me about this program, I knew I wanted to apply. One of my undergraduate majors was economics, and I entered law school hoping to pursue a legal field that incorporated mathematics and business-related topics. I also worked in fashion retail before and during my first year of law school. A family trip to Rome and Florence when I was sixteen also sparked my interest in Italian language and culture. This seemed like the perfect program for me.

After landing in Milan, we attended daily lectures at the Italian Institute of Fashion Management (“IIFM”). Each lecture was led by an academic or legal professional offering a unique aspect of the Italian legal system or the fashion industry. From the Dean and Director General of IIFM, we learned about the business model for European luxury brands. From an in-house attorney for a global fashion brand, we learned about intellectual property issues in the fashion industry. We learned about the foundations of the Italian legal system, such as its Constitution, civil code system, and the use of mediation to settle disputes; and we learned how Italy’s national laws interact with the European Union’s laws and regulations. Finally, we learned about issues affecting business across various industries, including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and data protection, supply chain issues, start-up companies, labor and employment law, sustainability, and the human rights of workers.

In addition to our time in the classroom, we went on field trips and cultural excursions we would have been unable to experience had we remained on Villanova’s campus. We visited the Armani Silos, Fondazione Prada, and Herno store in Milan, took a day trip to Florence to visit the Gucci Palace, and attended a general papal audience in Rome.

Through this course, we learned to draw comparisons between the American and European legal systems and fashion industries. More importantly, this course provided a framework to help us navigate the multi-faceted relationship between international business and law. We learned crucial concepts to consider when practicing law or engaging business internationally, even if we are working with countries and industries other than Italy and the fashion industry.

Though attending on-campus events through Villanova’s Scarpa Center for Entrepreneurship and Law introduced me to the concept of law and entrepreneurship, this course expanded my understanding of law and entrepreneurship to an international perspective. Not only did this course help solidify my interest in business law, but it also inspired me to apply to be a Student Fellow with the Scarpa Center for Entrepreneurship and Law to continue my involvement with the Center. I am incredibly grateful for this experience and encourage my fellow law students to take advantage of the international study opportunities that Villanova offers.